Fannin assessors decide on vehicle proposals

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. – The Fannin County Board of Assessors decided on two specific used vehicles to bring before the Board of Commissioners (BOC) for potential purchase at the next BOC meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13.

At their Jan. 23 meeting, the commissioners discussed the possibility to either transfer a vehicle from the Land Development department to the Board of Assessors as well as purchase one other used vehicle or purchase two used vehicles, if the vehicle from Land Development was deemed unsuitable for use after a thorough inspection by the county Public Works department. Though no official spending limit for the purchase of a vehicle was approved, $20,000 was a figure mentioned by BOC Chairman Stan Helton during that meeting.

In follow-up interview with Helton Monday, Feb. 5, the chairman confirmed the Land Development vehicle had been inspected since the BOC meeting, and it has been deemed unsuitable to meet the functional needs required of the assessors’ department.

At the Feb. 2 assessors meeting, Chief Appraiser Dawn Cochran brought several used vehicle bids before the Board of Assessors. Ultimately, the board agreed to present two 2016 Ford Escape program vehicles – one with over 35,000 miles and the other with approximately 46,000 – to the commissioners at their next meeting. The price of the 35,000-mile Escape would be $19,057.50 and the 46,000-mile Escape would be $18,357.50. Cochran further explained the original three-year or 36,000-mile warranties for the vehicles had obviously expired for one and would soon expire for the other.

Board member Troy Junnier stressed the need of having a warranty for any vehicle purchased and stated during the meeting he felt two new vehicles with full warranties could be purchased for just $2,000 more than the $20,000 figure mentioned at the BOC meeting.

“(Post 2 Commissioner) Earl (Johnson) made it clear though that he will not approve a new vehicle,” Board of Assessors Chairman Lane Bishop said, reminding the assessors of Johnson’s concern of public perception from Fannin County tax payers.

Mark Henson, current Board of Assessors member and former Fannin County Schools Superintendent, told the assessors of a similar situation during his time as superintendent when he faced public scrutiny for the purchase of a new vehicle for the schools. “I hate to say it, but I can kind of see where (the commissioners) are coming from,” Henson said.

“I don’t think we ought to fight the battle,” Bishop concurred.

Later, Cochran explained the vehicles would be purchased from Blue Ridge North Georgia Ford, but the dealership itself will have to order and buy the vehicles to resell to the county.

After further discussion, the Board of Assessors agreed for Cochran to communicate with the dealership and produce further information on the terms and prices for extended warranties on both vehicles to bring to the commissioners.

Also in the meeting, the Board of Assessors approved a $20,000 transfer from the 2017 budget line item of capital outlay equipment to operational supplies. Cochran explained that when the 2017 budget was approved, several expenditures under $5,000 were expected to be purchased from capital outlay, but after county Finance Director Robin Gazaway was hired last year, Gazaway requested for such expenditures to be purchased out of operational supplies. According to Cochran, the transfer was for audit purposes and corrected what appeared to be a $13,000 over-budget amount in the operational supplies line item.

The assessors also approved a date change for the next Board of Assessors meeting from March 2 to Thursday, March 1. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. in the Board of Assessors office meeting room on the first floor of the Fannin County Courthouse and, as always, is open to the public.

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Born in Merrillville, Indiana, raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and currently resides in Copperhill, Tennessee. Graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1996 and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. Hobbies include hiking, camping and fly-fishing. Interests include baseball, hockey and cliff jumping.